Direct Energie have suffered a blow to their early season preparation as star rider Bryan Coquard has crashed in training and suffered a fractured shoulder blade. He has been withdrawn from their roster for the Ruta del Sol.

According to the French team, Coquard was taken to hospital, with the team suggesting his injuries ‘seem relatively serious’. 

The young Frenchman will need six to eight weeks to recover, ruling him out of Paris-Nice and Milan-Sanremo.